Many of the best airfares are for flights that depart early in the morning. For flights like these, a park and fly hotel option might make a lot more sense than long term airport parking for your budget and your comfort.
That's right, comfort. Here is an opportunity to save money and gain convenience at the same time.
Consider the following real-life scenario: Departure from an airport two hours from home at 6 a.m. for a 10-night trip. Long term parking at the departure airport is $11 USD/day. The parking tab upon arrival home, even in long-term, will be $110.
Within two miles of the airport is a hotel with an around-the-clock free airport shuttle. Booking a room the night before the flight with 15-day parking privileges is $79 USD plus another $11 for taxes. At $90, the savings is $20.
But that two-hour drive in the middle of the night is also eliminated. Getting on the plane with more rest and less stress will get the trip off to a better start.
Some might say $20 is a rather modest savings. But it is savings! It is likely in many places there will be no savings at all.
But would you pay $30-$40 to stay in a comfortable airport hotel? All but the strictest budget travelers would answer in the affirmative. If your room costs $150 a night but the airport parking tab is $110, you've still made a great deal.
Naturally, some warnings are in order.
Choose a hotel in a secure area. Don't leave anything of value in your car (good advice for airport parking, too). Try to park in a lighted area that's within the flow of traffic. Some hotels making this offer will have a designated parking area. If it's remote and dark, negotiate for a better spot if possible.
Some park and fly hotels will not have a free shuttle to the terminal. In that case, you must factor in a cab ride each way, and that could make the deal far less attractive.
An important caveat: don't simply pick an airport hotel with a shuttle to the terminal and announce at checkout you're leaving your car in their parking lot. These arrangements must be made in advance with hotels that offer park and fly deals. Most will have a park and fly room rate that might be a bit higher than their standard price.
How can such hotels be identified? Try Web sites such as ParkSleepFly.com, which allow a search by airport. If you book through them, there is frequently a service fee. At ParkSleepFly, it's $4.99 USD. Another choice is Stay123.com.
One thing you'll notice during such a search is that each hotel has a separate park and fly policy. In the example above, a rather generous 15 days came with the room rate. Many places, it's five nights free and then a set fee for each additional night. If the room is expensive and your trip will be lengthy, there might be a point at which you decline park and fly and pull into the airport parking garage after all.
But at least look at this option if you have a morning flight, because it frequently cuts costs and increases sleep time.
